‘Company secretaries must be technologically savvy ’

With the high level of technological advancement in the 21st century, company secretaries have been urged to upgrade themselves in order to remain relevant for effective operations.

They were advised to take best advantage of technology as it impacts good corporate governance to organisations, improves level of engagement with stakeholders and provide better platforms for seamless implementation on delivery of tasks.

These were the submission of experts on corporate governance, who spoke at the 2018 annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Lagos chapter, themed ‘Governance and Technological Advancement in the 21st Century’.

In her address, the keynote speaker, Chief Executive officer, Emerging Africa Capital Group, Toyin Sanni, who gave some indices of a performing board, which relates to having right combination of skills character and knowledge, noted that technology would play a major role in the evolution of good governance.

She said having a good basic knowledge of technology would assist company secretaries to properly guide their bosses, help companies manage risks and create positive communication channels among others.

Similarly, the Co-speaker, General Manager, Legal Services, Alpha Beta Consulting LLP, Adelagun Omogbemi, gave an insight into the differences between regulatory framework, technology and board performance.

He said strategic thinking drives business performance to achieve corporate success with the provision of risk management.

According to him, without strategic and risk management thinking, technology are inimical to organisational growth.

The Director-General, Nigerian-American Chambers of Commerce, Joyce Akpata said to avoid risk, board should engage cyber risks, engage younger millennial into
boards, as they are technologically savvy to run organisations, noting that most of the jobs of company secretaries are becoming 70 per cent automated.

Earlier, National President of ICSAN, Samuel Kolawole, in a goodwill message stressed that with the impact of technology on governance, the level of engagement has increased in the past few years, noting that in the past, engagements are held with few stakeholders during its yearly meetings.

He said the conference was an opportunity for members to re-access their organisations and consider how best they can leverage on the advantages of technology.

Represented by the Vice President, ICSAN, Bode Ayeku, Kolawole said: “Now, there is engagement with stakeholders on daily basis, With the creation of investors portal, institutional investors as part of shareholders, where crucial information are raised from time to time, and immediate response granted”.